Driving and spring suspension of vehicles



June 9,A 1931.

F. S. FARNSWORTH DRIVING AND SPRING SUSPENSION OF VEHICLES Filed 001',- 2 1928 v I. n

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Patented `lune 9,l 1931 l renales emTmjSTM-Es PATENT @Fifi-Ce fi FRANK SMEDLEYiFARNswoIvrH, or DERBY-COUNTY', ENGLAND ,DRIVING 'AND sPRiNG SUSPENSION or vEnIcIiEs Application mea octpber 2, 192a'se`ria1no-3oaso7, and' in Great Britain' october s, 1927.

My invention relates to the driving and.`

spring suspension` of vehicles. The mam object of the invention is to 1mprove the spring suspensionv and' drive of vehicles having lar method of suspension preferably'fbeing Y employed as describedin the specification of my prior'Patent No. 211,999, although it is not restricted to such suspension, the latter suspension when employedbeing amplified and adapted' to suit all conditions of drivev andto the number of drivingwheels of -the vehicles;v Y Aother'object of my invention'is to pro- Y vide an improved spring suspension which ing over an obstacle.' To obtain vthisresult it follows that eachV wheel must be sprung separately, and that the flexion ofanyf one spring or set lof springs governing the action of one wheel must not be communicated rto the' springing arrangements of thej other wheel or wheels. This'result is of courseimf possible with the ordinary solid type lof axle.

. A result obtained from thef'use o4f' Iny-iIi1-y provide suspension' is the cancelling of the effect of,unsprung weight. the usual l l as closely together 1n. the same plane as 1s conf venientand the driving mechanisms of each f methods ,of vehicle suspension the springs are mounted direct onto the axles, and the chassis or framework carryingthe engine and' trans-l mission gear (in a motor car)` and'` bodywork is in turn secured tothe springs.' By

this construction any part'of the vehicle mounted beneath'the springs; is totally unsprung except fori the cushioning effect .dei rived fromthe tyres. By the usev of the ima `proved suspensionwall u nsprung'weightf'is eliminated. Also,*the springsare relieved of all side and drivingr stresses, 'their' sole duty being to absorbyshocks and vibration,

l According'to the present invention in a vehicle having four drivingroadwheels said wheels are mounted on separate stub axles disposed on separate-triangular crank arms front steering wheels and` two, four, six or morel driving wheels, a simi- I or similarly shaped members, are in some i bers fareeach independently movable relatively tolanother and .companion wheel and against the action of load-carrying springs, y Y

spring-,buffersor like'devices having a portion thereof rigid with, or anchored to, thek chassis or body of the vehicle and are, in some forms, also movable against the actionror rereference to the accompanying drawings,in e a bound or reaction springs, spring buffers or llike devices attached to the triangular crank Figure 1 is a partlysidel elevation, with the .two near side road wheels removed, of a suit# ablevmanner of applying the invention to a lvehicle having four rear drivingwheels,

yFigure 2 is aplanxview of Figure` 1 with the chassis and other'p'arts broken away,

Figure 3 is a modification of the construc-v tion illustrated in Figures 1 andf2.

a Thus, according tothe inventionrand as partly illustrated in the drawings, thefve-y hicle-has two-front steeringroadv wheels, not shown, and two rear driving axles 8 and'9, leach driving axle carrying two driving road wheelsy 10, 11', 12 and 13 as this-applicationlv will be typical of all types. f The two driving `axles 8 andv9are brought axle, which may preferably be of the over-v head worm type, are combined in' one central gear box or rear axle casing lifwhich is car# l ried by tube extensions 15 supported invbearings 16 attached to the main'chassis framing 17, a separate tube extension being provided for eachdriving shaft. The tube extensions 15' carryk elongated sleeves 18, 19, v2OL and 21 adapted to Lturn about said tube extensions 15 and in bearings 16, which sleeves have the same typel of members or triangular formation or crank arms'and thersame Ymethod of drive'to the roadwheels 10, 11,v 12 and 18, the triangular members projecting forwardlyy or` backwardly of' their driving shafts in order e y CD ino f i in a.

to carry their respective wheels. It must be understood, however, that rectangular or other shaped members may be used in place of the triangular members if desired. Springs of any known type or system may be used, but when employing laminated strip or plate load-carryingsprings, the half elliptic type may be used as at 22, the springsbeing pivotally mounted at 23 at their centres between the bearings 16 carrying the sleeves and axles,

the outer ends of the ltriangular members 1S, 19, 20 and 21 carrying the road wheels 10,11, 12 and 13`bearing upon the ends of the springs which slide between rollers or pivoted blocks 24, one spring only being required on each Ythe road wheel and the triangular member carryingsame. The unsprung weight is re# duced but not eliminated when the reaction springs are omitted. In the case when the rebound or reaction springs 25 are lit-ted to the vehiclethe Centres of the laminated springs 22 are preferably rigidly or immovably mounted between the bearings 16.` rlhis design is most suitable for ordinary road traiiic in which it is unnecessary to pivot the 'laminated springs and more necessary on account of speed to balance the unsprung weight.

AAccording to a modification, and as illustrated in Figure 3, instead of securing the main axle bearings 16 and springs 22 tothe side members ofthe chassis 17, as in Figures 1 and 2, the springs 16a and springs 22 (not shown), may be attached to asub-frame 29 which will thus carry the roadv wheels 10,11, 12 and 13 and their driving and. pivoting mechanisms. The sub-frame 29 isl pivotally connected to cross members 17a on the main chassis 17 by trunnions, blocks` or other devices 30 which are disposed on the longitudinal centre line of the chassis and through the forward one of which passes the cardan or drive shaft 31. 'The trunnions 30 also allow for sidemovement when the vehicle isr traversing rough country or travelling across an incline.

From the above description it will be appreciated that each road wheel of the vehicle is sprung separately and can move independently in a vert-ical direction, and that unsprung weight is substantially reduced and eliminated when the reaction. springs are fitted. An improved mechanical etliciency is obtained as the rear axles are always lreptfin the same plane relatively to the engine crank shaft and to the change speed gear under `every condition of load. The vehicle will hold the road much better than those provided with ordinary suspension, as one wheel passing over an obstacle does not affect the others; in passing over uneven surface each wheel adapts itself to the contour of the road; the weight of the vehicle on the springs cannot produce a bouncing and rolling elii'ect at speed. A lighter construction of chassis is possible. The wear of-tyres is reduced to a minimum. The improved spring suspension is equally adapted to all types of automobiles, from the high powered racing car to the lorry and motor omnibus; with the former, higher speeds will be possible owing to the better road holding qualities and consequent reduction in wheel spin and with the latter greater steadiness and comfort in riding will be realized together with an appreciable reduc- 35 tion in cost of upkeep and repairs.

What I claim is 1. A driving and spring suspension for vehicles having four driving road wheels, wheel carrying members mounted for pivotal movement with respecty to the vehicle frame, a wheel carried bythe :tree end of each member, a load carrying spring connected with the vehicle frame and cooperating with each pair of driving wheels below the mounting I6 of such wheels in the wheel carrying members, Y and a reaction spring connected to the frame and to 'each of the wheel carrying members, said latter connections being in line with the f pivotally supported members.

2. 'A driving and spring suspension for vehicles having four driving road wheels, wheel Carrying members mounted for pivotal move-v ment with respect to the vehicle( frame, a wheel carried by theV free end of each member, a load carrying spring connected with the vehicle frame and cooperating with each pair of driving wheels below the mounting of such wheels in the wheel carrying members, and a reaction spring Yadjustably connected to the Y1.10 :trame kand to each ofthe wheel carrying members,lsaid latter connections being in line with the pivotally supported members.

3. Afidriving and spring suspensionfor a vehicle having four driving road wheels, in- 1,15 cluding two driving'axles, a common gear box for said axles, a tube extension for each axle, elongated sleeves mounted on the tube extensions, wheel carrying members connected to the sleeves,a wheel mounted in the free end of each member, and load bearing springs connected to the frame of the vehicle and terminally and slidably engaging the :tree ends of the wheel carrying members below the wheel mounting therein.

4. A driving and spring suspension for a vehicle having :tour driving road wheels, including two driving axles, a common gear box for said axles, atube extension for each axle, elongated sleevesmounted on the tubevextensions, Wheel carrying members connected to mounting therein, and reaction. springs ary vehicle having four driving road Wheels, in-

y member.

the sleeves, a Wheel mounted inthe free end f of each member, load bearing springs connected to the frame of the vehicle and terminally and slidably engaging the free ends of the Wheel carrying members below the Wheel ranged above said Wheel carrying members, one end of each spring beingsecured to the frame and the other end to a Wheel carrying 5. A driving and spring suspension for a cluding two driving axles, a common gear box for said axles,`a tube .extension for each axle, elongated sleeves mounted on thev tube lsigned my name. v

FRANK SMEDLEY FARNSWORTH. l w y angles to the sleeve forming a housingtfor road Wheel driving connections,the remaining side of the triangular shaped member forming a brace strut. i Y

9. In'a drivingand spring suspension Jfor vehicles of the type including a transversek 'axle anda tube enclosing such axlefa roadv AWheel-carrying member constructed in yright angled triangular form, one side `of said member forming a sleeve mounted on said tube, a chassis supported bearing for the v sleeve, fthat'side of the Wheel-carrying memjber arranged at right angles to the sleeve bef ing constructed in the form of a easing to enclose the vdriving connections tothe Wheel,

the third' side ofsaid member providing a brace strut, an arm projected at right angles to the sleeve, and' an adjustable balancing.V

means intermediate said arm and the vehicle frame. e

In testimony whereof I have hereunto 6. A driving and spring suspension for vehicles having four driving road Wheels, a

` Wheel-carrying member for each of said road Wheels, said Wheel-carrying member being constructed in substantially triangularr form and mounted for pivotal movementwith respect to the vehicle frame, a road Wheel carried by the free end of each triangular member, a load-carrying spring having connection with the vehicle frame and cooperating With 1 each pair of driving Wheels on the same side of the vehicle, and alradjustable balancing. spring connected to the l frame and to each of the Wheel-carrying members. y

7. A driving and spring suspension for av vehicle having four driving Wheels, tvvo main driving axles arranged closely together, a dierential common to said vdriving axles,

f tubular members enclosing the `Vaxles, the' tubular members extending from the respective sides of the differentialtothe outer sides `of the` chassis side members, triangular shaped Wheel-carrying members pivotally mounted on the tubular members and carried in bearings in the chassis side members,fay v K road Wheel mounted on the free end of each triangular member, and,` a load-carrying springconnected With the vehicle frame and cooperating with each driving vvheel. V

8. In a drivingand spring suspension for vehicles of the type including a transverse axle drive shaft and a tubular member enclosing said shaft, a road Wheel-carrying member constructed in right angled triangular form, one side of the member forming a sleeve to turn about said tube, a bearing for said carrying member, that portion of the Wheel-carrying member arranged at right 

